Philippines: Kill drug dealers and win medal, Duterte tells public

The Philippine president-elect encouraged the public to help him in his war against crime and urged citizens with guns to shoot and kill drug dealers who would resist arrest and fight back in their neighborhoods.

Rodrigo R Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte told a huge crowd celebrating his presidential victory late Saturday in the southern city of Davao that Filipinos who would help him in the bloody war against criminality would be rewarded.

“Please feel free to call us, the police, or do it yourself if you have the gun, you have my support,” Duterte said in his nationally televised speech, where he warned about an extensive illegal drugs trade in the country that involved even police.

If a drug dealer would resist arrest or refuse to be brought to a police station and will instead threaten a citizen with a gun or knife, “you can kill him,” Duterte said. “Shoot him and I’ll give you a medal.” Read More